From Brewing Pioneer to a Leader in STEM

Noteworthy Women - June 2024

Leslie Henderson is having the time of her life as one of a team of chemical engineers running a plastics manufacturing plant in Hancock County, feeding her love of science, chemistry, and physics. 

​- by Maurice Singleton

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Just over a year ago, Leslie Henderson accepted a position as a chemical engineer at SABIC, a Saudi Arabian-based company located in Hancock County’s Port and Harbor complex, Port Bienville. A math and science whiz, The Mississippi State University-trained engineer said that she is having the time of her life working alongside talented people doing incredible work.
 
“I love it there,” said Henderson. “It’s a fantastic environment; they have a great culture there. They do a great job making quality products, keeping people safe, and managing environmental impacts.”
 

Leslie Henderson and her husband, Mark.

 
Henderson said she has always enjoyed math, science, chemistry, and physics. “All those things really jive in my head,” said Henderson. “I’ve been constantly fascinated with manufacturing since I was a teenager.”
 
Leslie also co-founded Lazy Magnolia Brewing, a company she started in 2003 with her husband, Mark Henderson. Together, they grew the business by creating a variety of beer offerings, added a restaurant in 2018, and grew the staff to as many as 20 employees. As the first legal brewery in Mississippi, Lazy Magnolia is a hidden gem and a brewing landmark.
 
The couple decided to sell the business, and after entertaining several offers, the deal was finalized in December of 2022.
 

A proud mom, Leslie poses with her daughter, Corva.

 
“A big truth is a lot of people who are good at starting businesses are not the right people to carry it to the next stage or to keep it growing,” Henderson explained. “We were able to step back emotionally, look at things logically, and go, ‘what’s the best thing for this thing we’ve built for the community and all the people involved?’”
 
Henderson added that the best solution was to find a new owner who could take it to the next stage. The business environment and strategy with which they started the brewery had evolved. Elevating the business to the next level would require different skill sets.
 

Leslie and her son, Odin.

 
“We both see business owners get so wrapped up in their ego and their own agenda that they get tunnel vision,” said Henderson. “They can’t see what’s best for the company and the people around them.”
 
As much as Leslie enjoys her new career as an engineer at SABIC, she clearly enjoyed her time leading Lazy Magnolia.
 
“It was amazing,” she said. “The best time of my life. I was creating something that people were really enjoying and getting recognition for that because it was bringing people joy, it was bringing people a sense of romance.
 

 
“But it’s very different to be one of the people in a decision-making process rather than ‘the one,’” Henderson explained. “If you’re the business owner, whatever bad thing happens, it falls on you. It’s your fault. Doesn’t matter who did it; it’s your fault.”
 
She said the main difference is now she’s part of a team of engineers running the plant. She had a very small core group at the brewery that helped her manage the day-to-day operations. Now, as part of a team, the buck stops above her.
 

​“It’s great to be able to go to work, and I have mentors now,” she said. “I am not the one teaching everybody. It’s just wonderful seeing all these good things coming together in a plant that is much bigger than where I worked at the brewery. It’s fascinating, and I love it.”
  
A big bonus for Henderson and her family is that they will continue to make Hancock County their home. Henderson grew up near Louisville, Mississippi, but has lived in Hancock County since 2000. “I lost my home in Hurricane Katrina, so I am from here,” she said. “I’m a local now.”
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Leslie really enjoys living in our small community. She said it’s the perfect place to raise a family and grow in her career. “This the most welcoming community I’ve ever witnessed. I have friends here. My kids are thriving here. I have a wonderful new career here. I love it here.”
 
Hancock County is proud to have Leslie as a member of the community, setting a fantastic example for young women along the Gulf Coast.
 

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